At some point in life, most of us experience pain in a part of our body. It might come on suddenly after an injury, or it might build up slowly over time. Some people ignore the pain and hope it goes away. Others stretch, exercise, or book in with their favourite osteopath at Ascot Vale Osteopathy. Often, the pain settles with time, and we then take steps to stop it from coming back.
We’re usually pretty good at looking after our bodies. But how often do we put the same effort into caring for our mental health?
The Power of the Mind
Your mind is the control centre of your body. When your mental health is in a good place, your physical health often follows. When you feel tired, flat or overwhelmed, your body tends to reflect that too. There is a strong link between mental and physical health, which is why finding balance is so important.
There will be times when your mental health takes a hit. You can think of these periods like a musculoskeletal injury. Some people ignore the problem and hope it passes. Others face it and look for solutions. We all cope differently, just as our bodies respond differently to various treatments.
Imagine you’re under pressure at work. Your breathing becomes shallow, your heart races and your palms get sweaty. If you can notice these sensations early, you can pause, step away, and reset. Deep breathing, lying down or closing your eyes for a moment can often trigger a calming response.
Recognising these early signs of mental distress is crucial. Being mindful of your body and listening to what it’s telling you helps you tune into your mental state. Noticing symptoms and taking small steps to address them can go a long way in supporting your wellbeing.
This is a clear example of how the physical and mental interact: we start to stress, we pause, slow down and use our breathing to calm the mind.
How do we Train our Mind?
Humans are creatures of habit. We like what feels familiar, even if it isn’t always good for us. Change can feel uncomfortable and scary, so we often resist it.
But change is also inevitable and can open up new opportunities. A lot of the anxiety around change comes from trying to predict every possible outcome. When we spend too much time imagining “what ifs”, we can easily slip into overthinking and worry.
Focusing on the present can help. Try to:
Deal with what’s in front of you
Break tasks into small, manageable steps
Think things through calmly and logically
This approach can clear your mind and reduce stress.
There’s no benefit in dwelling on the past—it has already happened, and we can’t change it. The same goes for the future: we can’t know exactly what will happen in two days or two years. What we can do is create a pathway that moves us closer to the future we want.
Small habits, big changes
The easiest way to adapt to change is through small, gradual habits.
For example, say you want to wake up earlier so you don’t rush out the door without breakfast. If you usually wake at 8:00 am, try this:
Week 1: set your alarm for 7:50 am
Week 2: 7:40 am
Week 3: 7:30 am
This gives your body and mind time to adjust. It’s far more sustainable than trying to jump straight from 8:00 am to 6:00 am and then feeling disappointed when it doesn’t work.
We are creatures of habit, but we are also incredibly adaptable. The COVID?19 pandemic showed how quickly people can adjust to new routines and challenges.
Try not to be too hard on yourself. Change can be confronting. If you allow yourself time, make small adjustments and move at your own pace, you’re far more likely to feel comfortable and confident with the changes you make—to both your mind and your body.
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I can see this as a tips and advice. Thank you for this article.